About us

Welcome to HappyMaps UK

HappyMaps was developed to address the increasing struggle parents face in accessing help for their child’s behaviour or mental health. With mental health specialist services stretched thin, and long wait times for professional assistance, parents need to access reliable advice and support and existing information for parents is often scattered across many different websites and charities.

HappyMaps was created to save parents time and effort by providing a single platform to quickly find the help they need for their child. After extensive research and focus groups, with support and ideas from colleagues, charities, and parents, HappyMaps UK was established in 2019.

Since its launch, the website continues to develop and expand, reaching families all over the Uk and even world-wide. Support pages specifically for young people have ben added to direct them to the best places for help.

We hope that you will find that HappyMaps is a valuable resource for parents, caregivers and anyone working with children and young people. All our recommended books, websites, apps, and videos have been carefully selected based on expert and parental recommendations. We always welcome your ideas and suggestions, and you can further support us by donating, fundraising, or simply sharing our website with others in your network who work with young people.

Jasmin Krischer

GP and Parent
Founder and Director of HappyMaps UK.

Acknowledgements
HappyMaps was developed  in consultation with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Bristol City Council, Off The Record and Bristol Mind as well as many other charities and individuals. Thanks go to Dr. Elaine Lunts (GP and Primary Care Paediatric Lead, Bristol ) and Dr. Cara Roberts Roberts-Collins (Clinical Psychologist) who co-wrote some of the content and gave expert advice and moral support. Many other people contributed to the website with their expertise, advice and support but particular thanks go to Dr. Clare Short (CAMHS Consultant in Bristol) and Tom Hore (CEO Bristol Mind) both of whom supported the idea from the beginning and Dr. Georgina Griffiths, who gave up her own time to run parent focus groups, which helped shape how the website has developed. Huge thanks also go to to family, friends and all the parents and young people who contributed comments and ideas, and to the team at 180 Degrees Consulting who helped with the website, social media and publicity. Special thanks to Lee D’arcy who has tirelessly offered his expertise to help with technical issues and much more.

Funding
In 2018 HappyMaps was given startup funding from Health Education England (HEE) in recognition of the increase in mental health problems in young people which allowed the website to be developed. HappyMaps was awarded Community Lottery funding In December 2020 and in April 2022 and was registered as a charity in January 2021. HappyMaps received further charitable funding in 2023 from Portland Brown, Bristol, UK.

Please contact us with ideas or comments on happymapsuk@gmail.com

We’d love to hear from you!